Huckerby tops Ali B show

Manchester City 1 Newcastle United

One down, 18 to go. And if half the games left to be played at Maine Road, before the club move to the Commonwealth Games' City of Manchester stadium next summer, prove to be anywhere near as dramatic and exciting as this one, then the Man City faithful are in for a treat or two, not to mention the odd heart attack. Yesterday's victory over Newcastle United was achieved in the only way Kevin Keegan's teams know how, namely by playing exhilarating football while never looking totally secure in defence. Welcome aboard the City roller-coaster.

They may be starting their last season at Maine Road, but there is no danger that the fans will go quietly. Only the minute's silence for Holly and Jessica, which was impeccably observed, managed to keep the expectant crowd quiet. But then the blue half of Manchester do have something to shout about again, having won the First Division title at a canter last season and made a number of high-profile signings over the summer. All impressed yesterday, with Marc-Vivien Foé playing the holding role in front of the back three with great aplomb; the former Newcastle defender, Sylvain Distin, undertaking purposeful forays from the back; and Nicolas Anelka making intelligent runs up front. But the star of the afternoon was the old City favourite Ali Benarbia.

They call him Ali Baba around these parts, no doubt because he can split any defence quicker than you can say "open sesame", and he showed exactly why yesterday, as he mesmerised with his skill and trickery. This was very much the Ali B show, with the 34-year-old pulling the strings with great precision from midfield.

"Some people doubted whether he could do it in the Premiership," Keegan said after the game, "but I'm telling you he's the best I've ever worked with." The only surprise was that the opening chance was not created by Benarbia – that honour fell to the excellent Chinese defender Sun Jihai, who gained possession in midfield on 10 minutes before delivering an inviting low cross to the near post, which somehow missed everyone, including the onrushing Anelka – but his first piece of magic followed shortly afterwards. The Algerian threaded through a perfectly weighted ball for Darren Huckerby, who, though he managed to get a shot in from an awkward angle, was thwarted by the diving Shay Given.

At the other end of the pitch, another debutant, Peter Schmeichel, did not take long to feel at home in the City goal, as he constantly berated his new team-mates in the usual melodramatic style that has come to symbolise this pantomime Dane. The fans were beginning to feel as restless as their keeper, as the team mounted attack after attack without finding the net, most notably when Foé inexplicably headed Niclas Jensen's inch-perfect cross over the bar from all of two yards. The nerves of the capacity crowd were finally settled nine minutes before the interval when Huckerby, who looked suspiciously offside, concluded a messy scramble in the Newcastle box by nodding in the winning goal from close range.

Those who wondered whether this Keegan team would be any different from the previous ones had their answer within two minutes of the opener. Indeed, the home side very nearly threw away their lead, as Eyal Berkovic lost possession to Kieron Dyer deep inside his own half, allowing Lomana Lua Lua to steal in for a shot. The advancing Schmeichel saved brilliantly with his right arm, but could do nothing as the rebound fell to the unmarked Dyer. The England man needed only to side-foot the ball into an empty net from 15 yards, but somehow contrived to miss the target completely. "I'm not in the business of blaming anyone for defeats," Sir Bobby Robson said, "but Kieron clearly missed the easiest chance of the match."

The second half was all of a minute old when the alert Dyer robbed the otherwise impressive Distin just outside the City box before setting off towards goal. The 23-year-old seemed certain to score, but he missed this opportunity too, ballooning his left-foot shot high into the stands. It was not his day, nor Newcastle's, who created a handful of half-chances during the last half-hour without ever really threatening to spoil Schmeichel's day. Alan Shearer's right-footer looked goal-bound until it was deflected for a corner, and then Dyer went close again, only for his long-range shot to be brilliantly turned away by City's keeper. "To beat Peter, even in training," Keegan said, "you have to produce something extra-special."

Then, with 10 minutes to go, came the unthinkable, as Cavalier Kevin gave way to Sensible Keegan, and Berkovic was withdrawn in favour of the more defensive-minded Kevin Horlock. Is the new season bringing a new philosophy? "No chance," Keegan said. "We want to finish in the top six." On yesterday's evidence, they just might.

Manchester City 1 Newcastle United 0
Huckerby 36

Half-time: 1-0 Attendance: 34,776